Deadline passes, but new candidates can still file for some races in Marin

Candidates interested in a municipal council seat will have until Wednesday to file in several Marin cities and towns, despite the fact that Friday was the initial deadline.

Election law specifies that in races where no incumbent is running, the filing deadline must be extended to ensure there are plenty of qualified candidates. The extension applies to all local races, not just council seats. Friday, however, was the final opportunity for jurisdictions wishing to place a tax measure on the November ballot.

Candidates had the opportunity to file for more than 100 local governing boards. Terms were ending on the Marin County Board of Education, the Marin Community College District board, and the boards of numerous school districts, sanitary districts, water districts and community services districts.

One well-known individual to file Friday was former Marin County Supervisor Brady Bevis, who jumped into the race for the Marin Community College District board. She will vie with incumbents Barbara Dolan, Diana Conti and Wanden Treanor.

"I've been enjoying my retirement; but felt I need to continue to do some kind of public service like I used to," Bevis said. She said she has recovered fully from breast cancer.

In San Rafael, where there are two city council seats available, appointed incumbent Kate Colin and Randy Warren, a businessman inspired to run by his opposition to Plan Bay Area, have both filed to run. Since longtime incumbent Barbara Heller isn't seeking reelection, filing there remains open.

Five other people have taken out nomination papers: former councilman Greg Brockbank, Jonathan Frieman, a wealthy, liberal political activist; San Rafael Planning Commissioner Maribeth Bushey Lang, Peter Levi, and Rocky Pierson. Brockbank said he definitely plans to file.

Filing remains open in several other Marin cities and towns as well.

In Mill Valley, where council members traditionally abide by an unwritten rule to serve only two terms, incumbents Shawn Marshall and Andrew Berman are not seeking re-election. Local businessman George Gordon and John McCauley have filed to run. Since the incumbents aren't running, filing remains open until Wednesday. Jessica Jackson and Dan Kelly have taken out papers.

In Larkspur, where there are three council seats available, incumbent Dan Hilmer and Kevin Haroff have filed. Incumbents Leonard Rifkind and Bradley Marsh are not seeking re-election. Filing remains open until Wednesday. Daniel Kunstler has taken out papers.

In a few Marin municipalities, filing for four-year terms has closed; but filing for shorter two-year terms — available due to resignations or deaths — remains open.

In San Anselmo, where there is one two-year council seat and three four-year council seats up for grabs, neither Jeff Kroot, a four-year incumbent, nor Liz Dahlgren, the appointed two-year incumbent, filed to run. Incumbents Kay Coleman and Tom McInerney have filed papers for the four-year seats, along with John Wright, a Tamalpais Union High School District board member. Steve Burdo has filed for the two-year seat and filing for that seat remains open until Wednesday. Doug Kelly has taken out papers.

In Tiburon, where there is one two-year council seat and three four-year seats in play, four-year incumbents Alice Fredericks, Emmett O'Donnell and Jim Fraser have filed. Erin Tollini has filed for the two-year seat, and Pamela McConnell-Douglass has taken out papers for that seat as well. Filings for the four-year terms are now closed; but new candidates have until Wednesday to file for the short-term seat since the appointed incumbent, Jeff Slavitz, isn't running.

In Novato, where there are two city council seats available, the two incumbents, Pat Eklund and Denise Athas, have both filed, as well as Eleanor Sluis. Filling is closed.

In Fairfax, there are three four-year council seats available and one two-year council seat. Four-year incumbents David Weinsoff, John Reed and Barbara Coler, who was appointed, have filed to run, along with Christopher Lang. Renee Goddard, an incumbent appointed to a two-year seat, has also filed to seek re-election. Filing there is closed.

In Corte Madera, where there are three council seats available, incumbents Michael Lappert, Diane Furst and Carla Condon have filed, along with David Kunhardt, a solar energy developer, and Jennifer Larson. Filing there is closed.